Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK was formed in 2002 as an amalgamation of the Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. This charity is a member of the AMRC.

Cancer Research UK has stated (14/08/11) that it "...does not fund any research that uses human embryos or foetal tissue. However, we are funding a very small number of research projects that use human embryonic stem cell lines grown in the lab."

Cancer Research UK supported the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)'s regulations on the creation of animal/human hybrid embryos for research purposes and were disappointed when the HFEA stopped licensing this research pending the results of a consultation.

In a letter (11/10/10) from Harpal S. Kumar, its chief executive, Cancer Research UK outlined its support for research using embryonic stem cells and its support for couples to screen human embryos for inherited cancer genes.

SPUC comment

Human embryos are human beings from the moment of their conception (fertilisation or an analogous form of creation such as cloning). Removing stem cells from them abuses and usually kills them. The creation of hybrid embryos is also unethical.

Please send any information you may have about this charity to SPUC, either by email to rhoslynthomas@spuc.org.uk or by post to SPUC HQ.